Apparatus for handling loose material



Dec. 31, 1929. Q E, DAVIS 1,742,026

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Dec. 3l, 1929. c. E. DAvls v APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 19. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1929. c. E. DAVIS l APPARATUS FOR HANDLINGv LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 19. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 3l, 1929. c. E. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 19. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 3l, 1929. c. E. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE MATERIAL Filed Jan. 19. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 31, 17929 CHARLES E. DAVIS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NORTO GOODMAN MANU'FACIU'IIELING` PATENT OFFICE v COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION VOF ILLINOIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LOOSE IVLA'IERIAL` Application `led January 19. 1920. `Serial No. 352,413.

ing coal in a mine, but it isof course evident that it may be used for any other `purpose The `invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein F' 1 is a view sh "wing a mine room with one form of device, embodying the invention,` y w F 2 is a "ertical section through the mine room illustrated in Figfl; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view with parts broken away showing the actuating mechanism for the head and tail lines of the Fig. 4 is a side elevati-on of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3; d d

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing` the brak-e mechanism for controlling the device of Figs. 3 and 4; d h

Fig. (5 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3; d d d v Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the controlling clutch mechanism for the actuating mechanism illustrated in Fig.'8; p d

Fig. 8 is a sectional view takenon line 8-8 of Fig. 6; d d

` Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line .9-9

of Fig. 7; 2 2

Fig. 10 is a view showing a connection betweenthemotor and the truck wheels;

Figs. 11, 12 and are views of the exteny sion arm.

Like numerals refer tolike parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the drawings I have shown a scraper 1 having a head line 2 connected therewith, and a tail line 3 also connected therewith. The tail line passes over a direction changing device 4 at the rear of the scraper. Associated with the head line 2 is a direction changing device 5 which may be a pulley or any other form of direction changn ing device. d. This direction changing device is connected with a control line 6. The control line passes about a direction changing device 7. and 7 are preferably fixed in position. The control line and the head and tail lines are controlled from `the same point by the same operator.

` In the construction illustrated I provide a portable controlling mechanism for these lines. As illustrated this mechanism consists of a truck 8 provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced axles having supporting wheels 9, 9 thereon adapted to be run upon suitable tracks. vWhen the device is in opera# tion this truck may be run to the entrance of the mine room as illustrated in Fig. 1. A

short section of track 10 is placed on the floor and the truck is supported upon this track as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The truck is provided with a series of winding drums (see Fig. 3) preferably arranged behind the rearmost pair of supporting wheels 9, 9. These drums are driven by a suitable motor which is here illustrated as an electric motor 14 and which is connected by the pinion 15 with the gear 16, mounted on t-he shaft 17 so as to rotate the shaft. The gear 16 is connected by a gear 18 with the shaft 19, so as to rotate said shaft. This shaft is provided with two clutches which as herein shown are friction clutches, consisting of the members 2O and 21, which are loosely mounted on the shaft 19. Betweenthese members is asliding sleeve 22 which has a groove 23 containing the members of afork24. An arm 25 pivoted at 26 is connected by a link 27e with the fork 24.

This arm 25 is pivoted to the control member 26a. The members 2O and 21 have the internal friction bands or pieces 27 (see Figs. 7 and 9) One end of the band is connected at 27 a with the part 27'b rotating with the member. The other end of the band27 is connected to one end of the bell crank lever 270, which is pivoted to the part 27 b. The other end of the bell crank lever is connected by a link 28 with the sleeve 22. It will thus be seen that when the sleeve is moved to the right (see Fig. 9) the link 28 pulls down on-the end of the bell crank lever 27C, and rocks the bell crank lever to bring the ends of the brake band closer The direction changing devices 4 together, and since the brake band is on the inside of the Wheel, this releases the brake. The movement to the right of the sleeve 22 straightens out the link 28 associated with the brake Wheel 20, and this lifts up the end of the bell crank lever 27c (see Fig. 9) so as to separate the ends of the brake band and cause it to press the inner face of the Wheel, thus operatively connecting the Wheel 20 with the shaft 19. The friction member of Wheel 21 is operated to connect it with shaft 19 by movin the sleeve 22 to the left to straighten out lin 28. The parts are arranged so that when the sleeve 22 is in an intermediate position neither friction clutch is set. Connected with the member 20 is a gear 29 and connected with the member 21 is a gear 30, these gears rotating when their associated members 20 and 21 rotate. The gear 30 is connected with a gear 31, loosely mounted on a shaft 32 and connected with a Winding drum 3,3 about which the tail line 3 is Wound. Mounted upon the shaft 32 is a clutch member 34 whichl may be of any desired form and which is herein shown as a toothed member adapted to enga Ve teeth 35 on the gear 31. This clutch mem er is controlled by the lever 36. When the teeth 34 and 35 are engaging and the gear 31 is rotating the shaft 32 Will also rotate. Mounted upon the shaft 32 is a drum 37 about which the control line 6 is wound. This drum is not directly connected with the shaft 32 but is. provided with some mea- 11S for ermitting the shaft to rotate for a period Without rotating the drum, and to then cause the drum to rotate.

In` the construction shown the interior of the drum is provided With the threads 38. These threads engage threads on a nut 39 Which is feathered to the shaft 32 by the feather 4,0. This nut is provided on opposite sides With the projections 41 and 42. When the nut is at the limit of its movement toward the right in Fig. 6 the projection 42 engages a projection 43 on the part 44 attac led to the drum` 37, and when in this position the rotation of the shaft rotates the drum 37. When the nut 39 is at the limit of its movement to the left, the project-ion 41 engages a projection 45 and when in this positionv the rotation of the shaft also rotates the drum 37. Inl the` intermediate position of the nut the rotation of the shaft does not rotate the drum. Some means is provided forholding the drum against rotation.

In the construction. shownI have provided a brake for this purpose consisting. of a brake wheel 46 having thereon a brake band 47 (see Fig. 5). One end of this brake band. is connectedt to the fixed part 48. The other end is connected to one end of a bell crank lever 49, pivoted at 50 tothe frame. Some means isprovided for moving this bell crank lever soas to clamp andy unclamp the brake band. In the construction shown there is connected with the bell crank lever a link 51 Which is connected with an arm 52 on the shaft 53, Which shaft extends across the brake as shown in Fig. 3, and is provided with cranks 54 by means of which it is rotated. It will be seen that When the shaft rotates so as to move the free end of the arm 52v to the left in Fig. 5, the bell crank lever Will be rocked to clamp the brake band upon the brake Wheel, and when moved in the opposite direction to move the brake band from the brake Wheel. The Shaft 17 is provided with a sliding pinion 56 (see Fig. which engages a gear 57', the gear 57 engaging a gear 58 on the axle 59 of the truck. ).Vhen the pinion 56 is in mesh with the gear 57 it Will be seen that the motor vvillv be connected with the axle 59: to drive the truck. When the pinion 56 is slid out of mesh with the gear 57 the motor is disconnected from the truck. The pinion 56 is controlled by the handle 60.

The truck 8 is provided with an inclined chute or guide 65 for the scraper. This guide is arranged so that when the scraper reaches the truck it is pulled up along this guide carrying the material With it and the end of the guide is placed so that the material from the scraper is discharged into a receiving device, such as a car 66. The guide is preferably provided with an end 67 which may be moved' to a place, Where it will be out of the w. when the truck is being transported, but w iich can be moved down to the position Shown in Fig. 2 When the scraper is being used. The end 67 may be for example hinged so as to fold over on the main body 67, or may be arranged in any other suitable manner-so that it may be moved to a place out of the Way Whenl the truck is being transported. The truck is provided With an extension arm 68 havingr a direction changing device 69 about Which the head line 2 passes. This head line passes from the scraper about this direction changing deviceor pulley, and then )asses about a pulley 70, and then to the drum 71 (see Fig. 6),. It will thus. be seen. that the head line is wound upon the drum 71 in a direction opposite to the direction about which the tail line is Wound around the drum 33, so that as one lengthens the other shortens and vice versa. The drum 71-v is loosely mounted on the shaft 32A and has connected therewith the gear 72, which meshes with the gear 29 (see Fig. 7). It will. thus be seen that the drum for the head line is controlled by the frictiony clutch. associated with the Wheel 20, While the druml 33 for the tail line is controlled by the f-r-ictionclntch associated. with the Wheel 21. The extension. arm 68 is arranged sothat it may be moved out of the Wa when; the-truck; is being transported.

iii the construction illustrated this extension armis arranged' so that ity may be slid in- Wardly.

Referring to Figs. 11, 12 and 13 it will be noted "that lthe extension arm works in a socket`7 3 at the bottom of the guide 65. This extension arm and the socket have inclined sides, being V-shaped as it were, as shown for example in Fig. 13 so as not to interfere with the movement of the scraper therealong. The end 74 of the extension arm projects from this socket, and is beveled as shown in Fig'. 11, and this end is enlarged as shown in Fig. 12 so as to strike the end of the socket and prevent the complete withdrawal of the arm. The end may be separate from the arm and fastened thereto by fastening devices 76.

A movable locking piece 77 is pivoted at 78 and engages a holding piece 79 which tits into i a recess 80 in the locking piece (see Fig. 11).

Vhen the parts are Vin their operative posi* tion the locking piece is in the position shown in Fig. 11. lVhen it is desired to push the extension arm in out of the way, it is first moved outwardly to release the shoulder `81` from the holding piece 79.

The locking piece 77 may then be moved about its pivot to a position where it will not strike the holding piece and then the extension arm may be `pushed in to its inoperative position. Lo-

cated near the frontend 83' of the room when the loading deviceis used in a mine, is a guide 84 which is iXed in position by any desired means, asby the `jacks 85 (see Figs. 1 and 2). This guide is in such a position that when the scraper is moved from its loading to its unloading position, it mayengage this guide and the tailk line 3 may also engage the guide.

The truck is also provided with pulleys or dij rection changing devices 3a and 3" for the tail `line and direction changing devices 6 and 6b for the control line. It will be noted that all the direction changing devices at the actuat-` lio ing or control end if the device are mounted on the portable power device, and hence no posts or other devices are required to be set at this end in installing-the apparatus. `The j device is self contained and it is only necesi beneath and within the lateral boundaries of thechute. Control devices 26 and 54 forcontrolling the winding `drums are accessible from either side of the chute, so the operator `may stand at either side, where he is in view of the movements of the scraper at one end of the device and may also view the discharg-` ing of the scraper into the cars at the other end of the device, and control the apparatus accordingly. j

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

When the device is to be used in a mine, the

i truck with the incline and control mechanism is run to the mouth of the room as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and is preferably placed on a short section of track 10. One ofthe cars 66 is then runin proximity to the outer end of the incline, and the direction changing devices 4 and 7 and the guide 84 then placed in position. The coal is mined from a wall 83 and is lying on the floor near this wall. `The scraper is then brought to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. T'heoperator starts the motor and throws in the friction` clutch 20. This rotates the drum 71 which winds up the head line 2. The drum 33 is then free from the motor and the tail line 3 unwinds therefrom. The drum 37 upon which the control line is wound is held against rotation by the brake band on the wheel 46. VThe teeth of the clutch 34 of the drum for thetail line are in engagement with the clutch teeth 35 on the gear y31, and hence `as the tail line is unwound the shaft 32 is rotated. During this time the nut 39 associated with the control` hence the drum can be held against rotation` by the brake, even though the shaft 32`is ro# tated, for this rotation of the shaft simply moves the nut39 along toward the left.

Theyscraper 1 is an open mouth scraper having the head line connected by the branches 2awth the two ends of the scraper. The pulling forward of the scraper causes it to be `loaded with the loose coal. When the scraper is full of coal it is then necessary to turn it so that it can be moved toward the entrance of the room. This turning must be gradual and this is done by allowing the di rection changing device 5 to move away from the direction changing device 7. In the present construct-ion this is accomplished by loosening the brake band on the brake wheel ingdevice 7 as shown in dotted lines in Fig.;

1, and hence there will be a gradual turning of the scraper. i

' It will be noted that in this particular con struction the tail line drum and the control line drum are connected with the same shaft and that the control line drum instead of having a direct connection has a compensating connection. It willfurtherbe seen that during the first part of the movementv of the scraper along the wall 83, the tail line drum 33 and the shaft 32 are being rotated because the tail line is being pulled out or unwound, and that during this period the control line drinn is i held againstV rotation by the brake, the construction being such, however, that the shaft 32 is free to rotate, such rotation, however, causing the nut 39 to move along the Y the scraper the control line is unwound rapidl while the tail line is unwound slowly, an may in some instances not be unwound at all during this period because the scraper l is as it were turning about the direction changing device 4 as a pivot. This speeding up as it were of the control line drum causes it to move faster than the shaft 32 and moves the nut 39 again to the right, and when the projection 42 engages the projection 43 the shaft 32, the control line drum 37 and the tail line drum 33 then move in unison, such movement being caused by the pull upon the head line 2 due to its being Wound upon the drum 71. The control line drum, it will thus be seen, rstfalls behind a certainv amount and then s eds up to catch up the amount itvfell beh-in and it is. therefore 'necessary to have an accurately timed mechanismy for doing this, and the nut 39- and threads and associated part-s provide such an accurate timing mechanism. The scraper is now pulled down by the head line to the incline or guide and then isr pulled up along said guide to the end thereof, and the material is discharged into the car 66, the scraper being open at the bottom and the end so that this discharge can easily take place. The operator stops the scraper at its discharge point. After the scraper has been unloaded it is moved back toits initial position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. This is done by disconnecting the friction member of Wheel 2() and connecting thefri'ction member of wheel 21 with said wheel so as to rotate the gear 28. This rotates the tail line drum so as toy Wind up the tail line and pull the scraper. back. The head line drum 71 is free from the shaft so that it can rotate to unwind the headline. The control line drum 37 during this operation is connected with the shaft 32 by the projection 42 engaging the projection 43 (see 6) so that the control line is wound on the drum.

It will be seen that in this construction I have combined in a self conta-ined actuating or power element on the truck 8, the three drums one for the head line, another for the tail line and the other for the control line, and that due to the peculiarities of movement of the system the control line drum is, as it were, out of harmony because the unwinding of the control line is different from the Winding of the head line and the. unwinding of the tail line during a portion of the movement of the scraper.

The control line drum for exampleV during a part of the movement is slowed` down or held against rotation while the shaft 32, the tail line drum 33 and-the head line drum 7l are rotating, and hence the control line drum,

`or' slowed down or retarded. In-order to arrange for this lack of harmony or unison I have provided a compensating device consisting in the particular instance ofthe nut 39 and the threads on the inside of the drum 37. This compensating device is properly timed so that the control line drum will make up just the amount it loses, and this timing or arrangelnent for properly making up the lost revolutions is done automatically, responsive to the pull of the head line. After the nutl 39 reaches the point where the projection 42 engages the projection 43, the drums then rotate in unison. It is of course evident that the continued movement after the drum has speeded up may be brought about even if the projection 42 is not inV engagement with the projection 43, because the pull of the head line will insure unwinding ofthe drum 37 to bring about the proper unwinding of the control line. v

In the normal. operation of the device, the clutch 34 has its teeth in engagement with the teeth If for example it is desired to move the direction changing devices for and 7 farther along, or for any reason to change the length of the various lines, then `all that is necessary is to disconnect the clutch 34 whereupon the drums 33 and 37 may be turned independent of each other to wind or unwind the desired portion of the associated line so as to lengthen or shorten it. The drum 71 mayy also be turned independently of. the other drums to shorten or lengthen the head line. Under these conditions the clutches 20 and 21 will of course be disconnected.

I claim I l. A device for handling loose material comprising a truck, a scraper, a' power'transmitting device connected with said scraper, a sliding arm connected with Vsaid truck, a pulley on said arm about which said power transmitting device passes, and means for holding said arm in a predetermined position when the scraper is being used.

2. A device for handling loose material comprising a truck, an armslidably connected with said truck, a pulley connected with said arm, a movable holding device for holding said arm in an extended position, said holding device when moved to a predetermined position permitting the arm to be pushed inwardly. A

3. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line connected therewith, a tail line connected therewith, a control line connected in said system, a portable power device, an incline mounted thereon, guide means for moving said scraper to and alongV said incline to a discharge point beyond said power device, and means forcontrolling all of said lines from oneA side of said incline so that a single operator 'may operate the device. l

4. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper, a head line'connected therewith, a tail line connected therewith, a control line connected in said system, a portable power device, an incline mounted thereon, guide means for moving said scraper to and along said incline to a discharge point beyond said power device, and means for controlling all of said lines from either side `of said incline so that a single operator may operate the device from one side or the other, at will.

5. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper provided with a head line and a tail line for moving the same reciprocably, a portable power device for said scraper comprising draft actuating mechanism for said draft means, an inclined chute for said scraper extending over said draft actuating mechanism, a direction changing device for said head line adjacent the upper end of said incline for moving said scraper along the latter to a discharge point beyond said power device, and means for controlling said draft mechanism from either side of said chute so that a single operator may operate the device standing at either side thereof.

6. In a device for handling loose material, a scraper', a head and tail line for operating said scraper reciprocably, a portable power device comprising a frame, an inclined guide chute for said scraper adapted to engage the ground at the forward end and overhanging the rear end of said frame, a shaft disposed on a transverse axis beneath said chute and forwardly of the rear end thereof, winding drums for said head and tail lines mounted coaxially on said shaft, guide means for said head line supported beyond the rear end of said chute, and a motor beneath said chute having selective operative connection with said winding drums.

7. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper provided with suitable draft means for moving the same, a portable power device for said scraper comprising a frame having a pair of longitudinally spaced supporting axles and wheels therefor, an inclined chute for said scraper extending longitudinally of said frame and adapted to engage the ground at the forward end thereof, winding devices for said draft lines mounted on a common axis beneath said chute rearwardly of the rearmost pair of supporting wheels, guide means for said draft means sup ported beyond the rear end of said chute, a motor mounted between said pairs of supporting wheels, and driving connections between said motor and said winding devices.

8. A device for handling loose material comprising a scraper provided with suitable draft means for moving the same, a portable power device for said scraper comprising a frame having a pair of longitudinally spaced supporting axles and wheels therefor, an inclined chute for said scraper extending longitudinally of said frame and adapted to engage the ground at the forward end thereof, winding devices for said draft lines mounted on a common axis beneath said chute rearwardly of the rearmost pair of supporting wheels, guide means for said draft means supported beyond the rear end of said chute,

a motor mounted between said pairs of supe` portingl wheels, and means affording selective driving connection between said motor and said rearmost wheels or said winding devices.

9. In a device for handling loose material, a scraper, a head and tail line for operating said scraper reciprocably, a portable power device comprising a frame, an inclined guide chute for said scraper adapted to engage the ground at its forward end and overhang the rear end of said frame, a guide sheave supported centrally of and beyond the rear end of said chute, a pair of supporting wheels and axles for said frame, and winding drums for said head and tail lines mounted on a common shaft disposed transversely beneath said chute and rearwardly of the rearmost pair of supporting wheels, the head line winding drum being disposed centrally of said frame in line with said guide sheave, and a motor carried beneath said chute forwardly of said winding drums having selective operative connection with the latter.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature this 29th day of December, 1919.

CHARLES E. DAVIS. 

